‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’: Prague-shot spinoff with Ana de Armas gets debut trailer

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, which was filmed in Prague during the winter of 2022-23, has received a debut trailer from distributor Lionsgate ahead of its release next June. Set in the assassin-filled world of the John Wick movies, Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as the titular heroine, with Wick star Keanu Reeves appearing in a supporting role.

The distributor also variously titles the film Ballerina and the clunky From the World of John Wick: Ballerina in promotional materials, including the new trailer.

Ballerina also features other characters from the John Wick movies, played by Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick in his final on-screen role. The film also adds new characters played by Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.

“Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma,” reads the official plot description from Lionsgate.

In Prague, filming for Ballerina took place at the National Theatre’s Nová scéna, the Masarykovo nádraží train station, and areas of Karlín and Bubeneč, in addition to studio work at Barrandov Studio. Local production of Ballerina was handled by Czech Anglo Productions in the winter of 2022-23.

Outside of Prague, filming for Ballerina took place at Dolní Beřkovice Castle, Kačina Castle, the ruins of the Belvedere Summer Castle (Letohrádek Belveder) outside of Kutná Hora, and areas in the Central Bohemian Region including Toušeň, Semily, Kouřim, Kladno, and Kolín.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Ballerina was headed back before cameras for reshoots. While the original shoot almost entirely took place at locations in Prague and in the Czech Republic, reshoots were instead conducted in Budapest in early 2024.

Based on a character first glimpsed in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ballerina is based on a screenplay by Shay Hatten, who rewrote his material to fit into the John Wick universe after selling his script to Lionsgate in 2017. Emerald Fennell also contributed to the screenplay.

Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard, Total Recall) directed Ballerina, working closely with Chad Stahelski, who helmed the four mainline John Wick movies and signed a contract with Lionsgate to oversee the entire franchise.

Ballerina is the second John Wick spinoff following last year’s Peacock series The Continental, starring Mel Gibson, which was also filmed in Budapest.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is currently slated for release in cinemas worldwide from June 6, 2025.

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Jason Pirodsky

Jason Pirodsky has been writing about the Prague film scene and reviewing films in print and online media since 2005. A member of the Online Film Critics Society, you can also catch his musings on life in Prague at expats.cz and tips on mindfulness sourced from ancient principles at MaArtial.com.

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